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LIFT: An eLearning Introduction to Web Search for Young Adults with Intellectual Disability in Sri Lanka

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Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021 (INTERACT 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12932))

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Abstract

For users with intellectual disability new to the Internet, mastering web search requires both conceptual understanding and supported practice. eLearning offers an appropriate environment for both self-paced learning and authentic practice since it can simulate the types of interactions encountered during web searching. Yet eLearning approaches have not been explored towards supporting young adults with intellectual disability (YAWID) to search the web or supporting them to learn web search. This paper presents a study that examines the experiences of 6 YAWID learning to search the web with LIFT, an eLearning tool designed with a specific focus on supporting memory through mental models and practice exercises. The content and approach of LIFT are tailored to the Sri Lankan context, incorporating the use of the Sinhala virtual keyboard for Google search and culturally relevant metaphors. We collected a range of observations as the participants used the eLearning tool, subsequently independently searched for information online, and finally described the Google search process to a teacher. We surveyed their understanding through drawings they created about the Internet and Web search. The findings establish the significant potential for eLearning to engage and support YAWID learn web search, with a realistic environment for safely practicing web search and navigation. This study contributes to human-computer interaction by integrating three aspects of eLearning: accessible interface, content, and interactive practice, also accommodating web search in the Sinhala language. It acknowledges that understanding specific users is critical if interaction designs are to be accepted by their users.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers from INTERACT2021 for their valuable suggestions and comments. Thanks to two special schools, all our participants with intellectual disabilities, and their teachers. We acknowledge the support for this research study from the University Grant Commission, Sri Lanka (UGC/DRIC/QUT2016/RUH/02), Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Assoc. Prof. Sitbon is supported by the Australian Research Council (FT190100855).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Theja Kuruppu Arachchi, Laurianne Sitbon & Jinglan Zhang

  2. National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), University of Colombo, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka

    Theja Kuruppu Arachchi & Ruwan Gamage

  3. University of Colombo School of Computing, University of Colombo, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

    Priyantha Hewagamage

  4. Main Library, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka

    Theja Kuruppu Arachchi

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  1. Theja Kuruppu Arachchi
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  2. Laurianne Sitbon
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  5. Priyantha Hewagamage
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Correspondence to Theja Kuruppu Arachchi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo Ardito

  2. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Rosa Lanzilotti

  3. Computer Science Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Alessio Malizia

  4. Department of Computer Science, University of York, York, UK

    Helen Petrie

  5. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Piccinno

  6. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Desolda

  7. Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, USA

    Kori Inkpen

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Arachchi, T.K., Sitbon, L., Zhang, J., Gamage, R., Hewagamage, P. (2021). LIFT: An eLearning Introduction to Web Search for Young Adults with Intellectual Disability in Sri Lanka. In: Ardito, C., et al. Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021. INTERACT 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12932. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85623-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85623-6_16

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